Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao at 11: A Decade-Long Journey Towards Gender Equity in India

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign has completed 11 years, marking an important milestone in India’s sustained effort to address gender imbalance and empower the girl child. Launched on 22 January 2015, the initiative was conceived as a national response to declining child sex ratios and deep-rooted social biases that undervalued daughters. Over the past decade, the campaign has evolved into a broader movement aimed not only at saving the girl child but also at educating and enabling her to participate fully in India’s social and economic life.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao completes 11 years | Times of India

Genesis of the Campaign and Its National Importance

The programme was launched from Panipat, Haryana, a region that once reflected the alarming consequences of gender-biased practices. At the time of its inception, India faced serious concerns over female foeticide, discriminatory social norms, and limited access to education and healthcare for girls. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao was introduced as a multi-sectoral initiative involving the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Education, and Health, with the objective of bringing behavioural change at the grassroots level.

From the beginning, the campaign sought to reinforce legal safeguards such as the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, while simultaneously focusing on awareness generation, community engagement, and the promotion of positive attitudes towards daughters.

Progress in Sex Ratio and Demographic Indicators

One of the most significant indicators of BBBP’s impact has been the improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB). Official data shows that the national SRB has risen from 918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2014–15 to around 930 girls per 1,000 boys in recent years. While the progress has been gradual and uneven across states, it reflects a meaningful shift away from gender-biased practices in several districts that were once categorised as critically low on gender indicators.

States such as Haryana, which once reported some of the lowest sex ratios in the country, have recorded notable improvements following strict enforcement of laws and sustained awareness drives under the BBBP framework.

Strengthening Education and Health Outcomes for Girls

Beyond demographic correction, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao has increasingly focused on ensuring that girls survive, thrive, and succeed. Increased school enrolment and retention of girls, particularly at the secondary level, has been one of the positive outcomes associated with the campaign. Government efforts linked to BBBP have supported initiatives encouraging families to prioritise girls’ education and reduce dropout rates.

In the area of healthcare, the programme has contributed to improved antenatal care registrations, higher institutional delivery rates, and better access to early health interventions for mothers and newborn girls. These measures have strengthened maternal and child health systems, particularly in underserved regions.

Social Awareness and Community-Level Transformation

A defining feature of BBBP has been its emphasis on social mobilisation and public participation. Through mass media campaigns, school-based programmes, local celebrations, and community outreach, the initiative has sought to challenge long-standing patriarchal norms. Campaigns highlighting the achievements of women in sports, science, defence, and entrepreneurship have helped reshape perceptions around the potential and value of girls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly underlined the cultural and moral responsibility of respecting daughters, often emphasising that societal progress is incomplete without gender equality. These messages have played a role in embedding the campaign within public discourse rather than limiting it to policy documents.

Challenges That Continue to Persist

Despite notable gains, challenges remain. Improvements in sex ratio and female empowerment have not been uniform across the country. In several districts, entrenched social attitudes, economic pressures, and gaps in implementation continue to hinder progress. Experts note that while awareness has increased, translating it into lasting behavioural change requires sustained effort, local leadership, and strong institutional monitoring.

Additionally, issues such as female workforce participation, higher education access, and social safety still demand focused attention to ensure that empowerment extends beyond early childhood and schooling.

The Road Ahead

As Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao enters its second decade, the emphasis is shifting from awareness to long-term empowerment and inclusion. Aligning the campaign with schemes such as Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, skill development initiatives, and digital education programmes reflects a more holistic approach to gender equality.

The success of the campaign ultimately depends on consistent policy support, community ownership, and the continued dismantling of discriminatory norms. While numbers and indicators provide one measure of progress, the true impact of BBBP lies in changing mindsets and ensuring that every girl is given the opportunity to live with dignity, education, and choice.

The MGMM Outlook

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao completing 11 years reflects a sustained national effort to correct long-standing gender imbalances and restore social respect for the girl child. What began as a response to declining child sex ratios has gradually evolved into a broader movement addressing education, health, and dignity for girls. The improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth over the past decade, particularly in regions once marked by severe imbalance, indicates that consistent policy focus, legal enforcement, and awareness campaigns can influence deeply entrenched social practices. The programme’s multi-ministerial approach has helped push gender equity beyond symbolism, embedding it within governance, public discourse, and community-level engagement.

At the same time, the campaign’s real strength lies in shifting attention from survival to opportunity. Increased school enrolment, improved maternal and child healthcare access, and the promotion of girls’ achievements across sectors signal a gradual cultural change. Yet the uneven progress across districts highlights the need for continued vigilance, local leadership, and long-term commitment. As the initiative moves deeper into its second decade, aligning early-childhood protection with education, skill development, and economic participation remains critical to ensuring that empowerment is not limited to birth statistics but translates into lifelong agency, security, and choice for India’s daughters.

(Sources: News On Air, OpIndia, Times of India)